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Tuesday, June 24

Feds seek to block WA law requiring clergy to report child abuse
The Trump Administration moved Monday to join a legal fight to overturn a new Washington law requiring religious leaders to report child abuse or neglect even when it is disclosed in confession. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Getty Images)

What the SCOTUS Decision on Trans Care Means for Washington
The Supreme Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery for anyone under 18. What does that mean? The impact of this case, US v. Skrmetti, will have a tremendous impact on trans kids and their families living in the 27 states that have banned trans care in some way. Continue reading at The Stranger. (Anna Moneymaker)

WA budget cuts could eliminate education services for some foster youth
A statewide org that helps roughly 6,400 kids access sports, driver’s ed, graduation programs and more, will lose about a third of its funding in July. The cuts could be devastating for youth who rely on those services and would result in longer wait times. Continue reading at Cascade PBS. (Grant Hindsley)

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Axios
Supreme Court allows Trump to restart deportations to non-origin countries

Bellingham Herald
Rep. Larsen visits detained Whatcom County labor activist at ICE facility
Whatcom County youth suicide prevention program earns national recognition

Capital Press
Trump rescinds Forest Service 2001 ‘Roadless Rule’
Low potential for spring wheat damage from stripe rust
Labor Department dumps Biden farmworker union rule

Everett Herald
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax
Edmonds appoints liaison to South County Fire Board of Commissioners
Commentary: Immigration crackdown has economic fallout for all
Editorial: Congress must act on Social Security’s solvency

Journal of the San Juan Islands
How the new state budget impacts San Juan County funding and programs

Kitsap Sun
Washington has one of the ‘best global’ universities in 2025, US News finds

News Tribune
Mount Rainier faces glacier loss: Insights from Nisqually Vista
Paying rent by credit card in WA: Do you have to pay a processing fee, too?

New York Times
What to Know About the Cease-Fire Between Israel and Iran
Tuesday Is Expected to Be One of the Hottest in a String of Hot Days
A Show of Unity May Be the Best NATO Can Hope for at Its Summit
Extreme Heat Is Exacerbating Air Pollution, a ‘Double Whammy’ for Health

Peninsula Daily News
Peninsula College to continue without budget

Puget Sound Business Journal
Dealmaking stalls amid policy uncertainty
Pet insurance becomes a more popular job perk
AI could prompt local business to hire more, survey finds

Seattle Times
As pushback grows to WA immigration court arrests, ICE changes tactics
On Dobbs anniversary, Senate Democrats aim to restart abortion conversation
Royal upgrade: Trump will stay at the Dutch king’s palace during his NATO visit

Spokesman Review
Meet the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office newest recruit: O’Malley the Labrador retriever
Washington joins growing list of states to tax increasingly popular nicotine pouches like ZYN (Berg)
‘It’s going to escalate’: Iranian retaliation sparks fear for some Spokane County residents, while others seek to ignore escalating global tension

Tri-City Herald
WA state OKs 4-day school week for a Tri-Cities district with $1M budget gap
DOJ sues WA over new ‘anti-Catholic’ law making clergy mandatory reporters of abuse (Frame)

WA State Standard
Washington faces major lag in state inspections of hospitals
Feds seek to block WA law requiring clergy to report child abuse
WA board to consider parole for ‘Hillside Strangler’ convicted of 1970s murders

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
King County sues homeowners after 140 trees cut down
Former student sues Seattle school for antisemitism amid Gaza tensions
‘No certain evidence’ Travis Decker is alive or in Washington, sheriff’s office says
Trump’s federal land sell-off proposal includes 5M acres in Washington

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Whatcom County confirms first measles case of 2025
Kroger announces 60 stores will shut down nation-wide
Firefighters warning of wildfire conditions and firework danger
Mukilteo/Clinton ferry services ending early today for repairs
Former WA governor says attack on Iran likely raises threat for Americans
DOJ challenges WA clergy reporting law, citing First Amendment violation (Hill)
How Seattle’s mayor hopes to increase housing, welcome more small businesses
Happening now: NTSB to determine probable cause of Boeing in-flight door blowout
South Seattle neighbors on Rainier Avenue South urging city to make street safer

KNKX Public Radio
Your favorite campgrounds, hiking trails, and forests could soon be up for auction

KXLY (ABC)
Spokane Valley Mayor steps down for medical leave for health recovery
Mead School Board continues to delay action on transgender student policy
“A possibility that increases every day”: Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office shifts search for Travis Decker; considers possible death in wilderness

Web

Cascade PBS
U.S. strikes 3 Iran nuclear sites with mixed reactions from Congress
WA budget cuts could eliminate education services for some foster youth

The Stranger
What the SCOTUS Decision on Trans Care Means for Washington
Slog AM: Trump Bombed Iran, the DOJ Sues WA for Going After Sex Pests, CM Saka’s Still Yelling About Curbs

Monday, June 23

Washington joins growing list of states to tax increasingly popular nicotine pouches like ZYN
While it may be hard to see, especially when tucked under your bottom lip, nicotine pouches have become hard to ignore in recent years. They’ve grown so much, in fact, that state lawmakers across the country, including in Washington, have sought to change their tobacco taxes to apply to the expanding market. In the recently completed legislative session, Washington lawmakers approved a tax on products that contain tobacco or nicotine, “whether derived from tobacco or created synthetically.” The products will now be subject to a 95% tax of the sale price, which will take effect on Jan. 1. Continue reading at The Spokesman-Review. (Amanda Sullunder)

Washington updates student discipline rules for public schools
New discipline guidelines for public school students will go into effect across Washington state next month. While educators say the changes are necessary to address disruptive post-pandemic classroom behavior, the policies are drawing criticism from some student and family advocates. The Washington state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction adopted the updated discipline rules on June 10. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Dan Forer)

Sleepless nights, conflicting emotions for Iranian Americans in WA
The latest escalation in the ongoing war between Iran and Israel has stirred a broad spectrum of reactions from Iranian Americans. As small antiwar protests sprouted in Seattle and across the country, local Iranian Americans expressed wide-ranging frustrations — toward the United States, Iran’s theocratic government, Israel or Trump. Beneath that anger lies a steady undercurrent of fear for the safety of family members abroad and concern that tensions will escalate. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ken Lambert)

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Bellingham Herald
Health officials confirm Whatcom County’s first measles case of 2025
Free Narcan availability expands in Bellingham with a pair of new locations
‘Significant step’: DNR opens 7-mile trail in wilderness above Lake Whatcom

Capital Press
Land sale proposal in federal budget bill generates concern
Oregon lawmakers invest in expanded water recycling for irrigation

Everett Herald
Cascade High School students walk out to speak up
‘I feel safe here’: Community celebrates third-annual Everett Pride
Snohomish County PUD to change its contract with Bonneville this fall
Court docs: Everett Community College decided on ELC closure in March
Edmonds Municipal Court focuses on Blake cases ahead of state funding cuts
Editorial: A loss for Northwest tribes, salmon and energy
Comment: Signing on to a bright future in STEM careers
Comment:Building WSU Everett as it grows our local workforce
Comment: ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ hides ugly consequences for families
Comment: ‘Lone wolf’ myth makes it harder to confront extremism

The Inlander
Hemp and cannabis are the same plant, but federal rules for each differ widely

Kitsap Sun
Restoration of WSF service arrives, with fare increases likely coming soon
Nearly 10% of shipyard buildings fail to meet seismic safety standards, Navy announces
Bremerton boat manufacturer resumes government contracts, though tariff prices loom
A Bremerton-Bainbridge ferry? Advocates explore interest in connecting Kitsap communities

News Tribune
Rules of the Road: When is it OK to ride in the back of a pickup truck?
Mount Rainier’s glaciers are disappearing. What happens when they’re gone?
Tacoma spending related to ex-police chief topped $6M. Here’s what drove costs

New York Times
The Global A.I. Divide
What Is the Strait of Hormuz, and Why Is It Important?
White House Faces Risk of Economic Fallout From Iran Strike

Northwest Asian Weekly
WA’s Conrad wins DNC leadership post

Puget Sound Business Journal
AI is reshaping Seattle’s job market
QFC, Fred Meyer owner to close 60 stores
AI is creating a growing problem for Gen Z at work

Seattle Times
What the U.S. strikes on Iran could mean for world oil prices
Seattle residents tire of unsafe Rainier Avenue, slow city response
Wildfire conditions in WA could lead to power shut-offs, PSE says
Sleepless nights, conflicting emotions for Iranian Americans in WA
Supreme Court will hear case of Rastafarian whose dreadlocks were shaved by Louisiana prison guards

Spokesman Review
Protesters rally at Red Wagon against Iran War
Chewelah City Council members appoint interim mayor
Washington joins growing list of states to tax increasingly popular nicotine pouches like ZYN (Berg)
Wellesley Road improvements aimed at smoother rides, improved EVHS access and pedestrian safety

Tri-City Herald
Nuclear power plant near Richland WA being shut down to fix a problem
Tri-Cities school is one of ‘lowest achievers’ in WA. What’s being done about it?

WA State Standard
Washington updates student discipline rules for public schools
Washington state agency that oversees Medicaid will get a new director
Judge halts Trump order tying state transportation grants to immigration actions
Trump administration move to restore gun rights to some convicts protested by Democrats
Minnesota assassination prompts many lawmakers to wonder: Is service worth the danger

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Economists warn of recession as Seattle exports tumble

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Thurston County announces marriage license price hike
No boarding pass, no ID: Facial recognition coming to Sea-Tac
Iranians in WA worry about family as they react to U.S. bombing of Iran
Lawsuit claims Washington farm replaced local employees with foreign workers
Study claims this PNW city made the biggest strides in driving safety in the nation
SPD releases body cam video of shooting between police, domestic violence suspect

KXLY (ABC)
City of Spokane to host open house on Division Street bus rapid transit project
“Just really disheartened”: Protesters gather in Riverfront Park to oppose Trump’s bombing of Iran nuclear facilities

Web

The Urbanist
Issaquah Eyes New I-90 Bridge to Connect to Future Light Rail Station
Central Puget Sound’s Transportation Funding Gap Tops $78 Billion Through 2050
Opinion: Restoring Seattle’s Community Court Is Good, Pre-Filing Diversion Even Better

Washington Observer
For whom the state tolls
Public-records misbehavior in Longview
Meet Washington’s #1 Medicaid giant: Amazon

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT, ROAD WORK: Summer’s first Monday
WEEK AHEAD: How to get your minute @ City Council’s next all-day rezoning/Comp Plan hearing on Monday

Friday, June 20

Washington’s elusive out-of-state homeowners
Gaze down at our fair state from cyberspace and the numbers begin to paint a curious picture of who owns Washington real estate. Fewer of them may vote here than you might think. A bill written up this session to fence off your neighborhood from Wall Street begged the expensive question of just how many people live in what they own. That bill in question from Sen. Emily Alvarado aimed to cap the number of houses private equity firms could put under their belts. Continue reading at The Washington Observer. (WA Observer)

WA looks to strengthen safety net for children whose parents are deported
Detained immigrant parents worried who will pick their children up from school. Mothers who’ve been deported with infants while their older kids are left behind in the U.S. A new Washington state task force aims to assess those systems. It was created a week after President Donald Trump reclaimed office and embarked upon a campaign of mass deportation. In its first report, issued publicly this month, the task force found Washington faces multiple gaps in supports for separated immigrant families. Continue reading at WA State Standard. (Grace Deng)

Seattle-area costly child care strains family budgets during summer break
The price to send a school-age child to summer programs, often called day or overnight camps, has escalated since COVID, putting the squeeze on working parents. Scheduling is also a problem in the Seattle area as the more affordable programs fill up in minutes, and parents struggle with commutes and pick-up/drop-off times that don’t align with traditional office hours. The higher costs to run camps are also stretching the programs thin, making it harder to expand and give tuition assistance for lower-income families. Continue reading at The Seattle Times. (Ellen M. Banner)

Print

Aberdeen Daily World
Lake Sylvia safety project includes lowering dam level
Gray whales along the West Coast appear to be in trouble

Axios
ICE enacts new policy on congressional visits to facilities
Trump’s border czar: Immigration raids at farms, hotels to continue

Bellingham Herald
Whatcom County announces significant rise in ferry fares to Lummi Island
Will Mount Baker be impacted by federal land sale proposal? Bill is unclear
ICE agents reportedly extract man from his vehicle during Bellingham detention

Capital Press
Grower surveys-customer acceptance tops gmo wheat priorities
ESA protection sought for wolves in Idaho, parts of Oregon, Washington

Everett Herald
Everett council approves massive housing, land use update
Communities in Lynnwood, Edmonds celebrate Juneteenth
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring
Snohomish County’s new Ag Tech program creates access for farmers
Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett
Comment: GOP retreat from gay marriage a threat to court ruling
Comment: Ruling on gender-affirming care flawed, cruel
Comment: Juneteenth holiday struggles to build on promise

The Inlander
Spokane protests the detention of two legal immigrants and President Trump in week of action

News Tribune
‘Well-founded fear.’ Rumors of ICE arrests put parts of Tacoma on edge
What is Juneteenth? A beginner’s guide to the federal holiday. How to celebrate
Guide to the 100+ construction projects across Washington highways summer 2025
Comment: Washington’s new digital ad sales tax is unfair and unconstitutional

New York Times
The Supreme Court’s Blindness to Transgender Reality
Budget Cuts Could Hamstring States’ Ability to Create Geologic Maps
Juneteenth Goes Uncelebrated at White House as Trump Complains About ‘Too Many’ Holidays

Peninsula Daily News
Electric rates see big increase
Clallam Transit to receive $4M in grants
Peninsula College to continue without budget

Puget Sound Business Journal
DEI pushback creates challenges for some businesses
Here’s the CRE industry’s outlook for the rest of 2025
Convention industry navigates a rapidly changing landscape
What percent of entry-level jobs in Seattle pay a living wage?

Seattle Medium
Juneteenth: A Celebration, A Reckoning, And A Call
Juneteenth Started With Handbills Proclaiming Freedom
Juneteenth: A Legacy Of Struggle, Resilience, And Unfinished Freedom
King County’s Health Through Housing Initiative Shows Promising Results

Seattle Times
WA education office cites state budget cuts as it lays off 37
Bracing for cuts, King County Housing Authority pulls back
Issaquah pays millions after ‘preventable’ overdoses killed 2 at jail
Boeing ‘ready to listen’ as world waits to hear Air India crash cause
Should reckless hikers be billed for their rescue? WA sheriff says yes
What’s the cost of child care for 10 weeks of summer break? Unaffordable
Trump is silent about Juneteenth on a day he previously honored as president
Seattle marks joyful Juneteenth even as attacks on Black history, diversity mount
Trump immigration crackdown risks workers for this thankless job with ‘bottomless demand’
Trump administration can’t keep transportation money from WA, other states over immigration enforcement
Comment: On Juneteenth, recognizing freedom is built one home at a time
Comment: What it’s like offering support at immigration court in Seattle
Comment: WA is not only losing Black teachers, it’s pushing them out

Spokesman Review
Washington cherry growers struggle to find pickers
Cyberattack on grocery supplier reveals fragility of US food supply
‘A celebration of life’: Spokane to celebrate World Refugee Day as war on immigration rages
Fairchild tankers could be tapped, if not already, to support potential U.S. missions in Israel-Iran conflict
‘There’s no finish line to learning’: Former Seahawk Avril talks football, teaching youth at Spokane Juneteenth celebration
West Valley Spanish teacher continues to defend choice to read the ‘N-Word’ in ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ at gathering on Juneteenth

Tri-City Herald
‘Kept in the dark.’ Group sues feds for withholding Hanford nuclear site info
Trump’s food stamp cuts could ‘devastate’ 17,000 struggling Tri-Cities families
Sen. Patty Murray: GOP bill would put 5.4M acres of WA public land up for sale

WA State Standard
Toll exemption for buses crossing two WA bridges will end this fall
Washington deploys new tools hoping to prevent summer traffic deaths
WA looks to strengthen safety net for children whose parents are deported
Man impersonating Washington state agency stole $90K in fraud scheme, charges say

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Thousands gather for Juneteenth celebration in Tacoma
LGBTQ+ youth at risk as suicide prevention line faces elimination
Iranian Americans rally for diplomacy over military action in Kirkland
Surviving driver had 17 arrests prior to ferry dock crash in Puget Sound
FEMA funding once canceled, again headed to Westport for tsunami evac tower
Minnesota lawmaker murder prompts Capitol security talks in Washington state (Jinkins, Pedersen)
Troopers: Suspected impaired driver kills pedestrian on I-90, attempts carjacking before arrest

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
More Microsoft layoffs to come this summer
Chuckanut Drive reopening after 58 days of slide cleanup
Gangs still plague the Puget Sound – especially among teens
NTSB issues ‘urgent’ safety bulletin for some Boeing, Airbus planes

KXLY (ABC)
Missing 16-year-old Spokane girl last seen leaving school on June 13

NW Public Radio
How is the implementation of residential zoning changes going in Tacoma?
A ‘perfect’ season for Washington’s sweet cherries turns sour because of deportation fears

Web

Cascade PBS
WA abortion access at critical risk after state cuts, advocates say
Seattle upzoned single-family neighborhoods. What will get built?

Washington Observer
AG Brown sues California property manager
Washington’s elusive out-of-state homeowners (Alvarado)

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, TRANSIT: Friday info, as summer arrives

Wednesday, June 18

Guns kill more U.S. children than other causes. State policies can help, study finds
More American children and teens die from firearms than any other cause, but there are more deaths — and wider racial disparities — in states with more permissive gun policies, according to a new study. The study, published in the medical journal JAMA Pediatrics last week, analyzes trends in state firearm policies and kids’ deaths since 2010, after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision in McDonald v. City of Chicago. The ruling struck down the city’s handgun ban, clearing the way for many states to make it easier for people to buy and carry guns. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Michael M. Santiago)

New toll proposal sparks debate for Puget Sound projects
Dirt is turning in Puyallup on a project that’s been nearly a decade in the making — and at $2.83 billion, it’s one of the largest infrastructure investments in Washington state history. Crews are clearing land off Meridian Avenue and State Route 167 in Pierce County, the first visible signs of a massive build that will eventually connect SR 167 to I-5 and the Port of Tacoma. At the same time, in King County, work is underway to extend SR 509 to better connect SeaTac to the Port of Seattle. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)

Government officials arrested, charged or removed under Trump administration
A growing number of congressional and local officials have been handcuffed or charged over incidents related to the Trump administration’s immigration agenda. The big picture: The arrests and charges of elected Democrats have led party leaders to warn the president is driving democracy to the edge. But the shows of force, including during anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles last week, have also given Trump’s MAGA base and advisers exactly what they wanted. Continue reading at Axios. (Kavya Beheraj)

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Aberdeen Daily World
‘No Kings’ march well attended in Grays Harbor
Lawsuit says state ignored warning signs before Grays Harbor baby who lived in shed was disfigured in fire

Axios
Democrats who have been arrested, detained or charged under Trump

Capital Press
Yakima irrigation outlooks improves slightly
Cap-and-trade refunds to Washington farmers ending

Everett Herald
WSP to perform emphasis patrols along I-5 in Snohomish County
Snohomish County’s new Ag Tech program creates access for farmers

High Country News
Trump quits deal with Northwest tribes to restore salmon

Kitsap Sun
Whooping cough soared in 2024 as vaccination rates dropped
Kitsap launches permit-ready ADU program to boost backyard housing
Opinion: Kitsap County’s response to structural budget challenges

News Tribune
This new Pierce County city manager will make $265K. Here’s what we know
Cops shot at 30-year-old mom 23 times during mental health crisis in WA, suit says
Tacoma has removed nearly 9 million pounds of debris from encampments since 2022

New York Times
How Florida’s Attempt to Let Teens Sleep Longer Fell Apart
Supreme Court Upholds State Ban on Transgender Care for Minors
Texas Passed a Law Protecting Campus Speech. It’s on the Verge of Rolling It Back.

Puget Sound Business Journal
Seattle Center seeks partner to revamp major walkway
Why CRE execs are optimistic about the second half of 2025
Amazon CEO says corporate headcount will shrink due to AI

Seattle Times
Selling off the West to developers? ‘A very Trumpy idea’
King County police and fire agencies prepare to encrypt their radios
Seattle City Council approves new tech to help SPD track fleeing cars

Skagit Valley Herald
With faulty wiring fixed, Guemes Island ferry back in service

Spokesman Review
Spokane County jurisdictions to receive nearly $5 million as part of latest opioid settlement
Spokane County Commission names interim prosecutor following Larry Haskell’s resignation
Brown’s camping ordinance remains in limbo after council rejects then revives the controversial Prop 1 replacement
Louder lunches, passing notes, less failure to cooperate: A look at the inaugural year of cellphone bans in Spokane Public Schools

WA State Standard
Seattle judge considers reversing Trump’s EV charger funding freeze
Guns kill more U.S. children than other causes. State policies can help, study finds
Comment: As Trump cancels Columbia River deal, promises to Indigenous American tribes are still being broken

Yakima Herald-Republic
Yakima County fentanyl deaths down so far this year after increase in 2024
ICE enforcement directives flip flop for agriculture. What does that mean in Central Washington?

Broadcast

KING 5 TV (NBC)
Rite Aid plans to close more stores in Washington
New toll proposal sparks debate for Puget Sound projects
Cracks in century-old dam prompt drawdown at Sylvia Lake
Veterans accused of stealing from JBLM, harboring Nazi paraphernalia arraigned
Officials split on Washington statute banning law enforcement from working with ICE

KIRO 7 TV (CBS)
Northshore School District bans cellphones in elementary, middle schools
2 dead, 3 injured when car goes off Edmonds ferry dock following police chase
KNKX Public Radio
Seattle’s No Kings protest Saturday among largest in city history

KUOW Public Radio
Washington state lawsuit payouts skyrocket to more than $500 million in past year
A ‘perfect’ season for Washington’s sweet cherries turns sour because of deportation fears

Web

Cascade PBS
Rural & Native stations would bear the brunt of public media cuts

MyNorthwest
‘Who we are here in WA’: Emergency drought declaration expands to one-third of state

The Stranger
No, ICE Is Not Raiding Washington Ferries Today

West Seattle Blog
TRAFFIC, WEATHER, ROAD WORK, TRANSIT: Wednesday + last day of school
WEST SEATTLE LIGHT RAIL: City Council Transportation Committee gets briefed before ‘transit way’ votes

Tuesday, June 17

Minnesota lawmaker murder prompts Capitol security talks in Washington state
The murder of former Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman is impacting Washington state legislators. ”It was devastating information to get,” said Laurie Jinkins, Washington state Speaker of the House. “I knew Melissa. She was an incredible speaker, but an even better person.” Jinkins, a Democrat from Tacoma, said violence has no place in politics. Continue reading at King 5. (King 5)

When was Juneteenth created? Why is it celebrated? What to know about Washington events
President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation took effect on Jan. 1, 1863, and freed enslaved people in the remaining Confederate states. But it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and delivered the news that “the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were free,” according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Continue reading at Kitsap Sun. (Getty)

Politics Rebuffed for years, Washington lawmakers regain Capitol dome access
Few, if any, members of the Washington state Legislature have been allowed to climb to the top of the state Capitol dome this century. That will soon change. A provision in the new capital budget requires 10 legislators be given a guided tour of the upper reaches of the historic building during the fiscal year that starts July 1. Another 10 must get the same opportunity in the following year. Continue reading at Washington State Standard. (Washington State Standard)